Daily Telegraph rebrands and relaunches Western Sydney campaign

The Daily Telegraph continues its fight to ensure Western Sydney gets a fair go from policy makers with today’s launch of the Go West campaign.

Go West is a rebranding of the paper’s successful Fair Go For The West campaign which has been fighting for positive change in Western Sydney and celebrating its diverse community since it was launched in 2014.

The 2016 campaign launch coincided with its first victory of the year: confirmation by NSW Premier Mike Baird that Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum would be relocated to the banks of Parramatta River.

In the past the campaign has helped secure the development of Sydney’s second airport, obtained a commitment from the State Government to ease traffic congestion and picked up two wins at the International News Media Awards in 2015.

However, The Daily Telegraph has further objectives, publishing an action plan today for Western Sydney that makes a number of demands across health, transport, infrastructure, education, business, law and order, sport and the arts.

The plan was delivered to Mr Baird and State Opposition Leader Luke Foley. Its demands include an extension of the South West Rail Link, a feasibility study into a $25 million science centre, more public service jobs, more nurses at Western Sydney hospitals and an expansion of Spotless Stadium at Homebush.

News Corp Australia NSW executive general manager Simon Anderson said while the campaign had achieved real change in the past two years, it was far from over.

“There remains a significant bias in public funding away from this great region, including in education, health, transport and the arts” – Simon Anderson

“There remains a significant bias in public funding away from this great region, including in education, health, transport and the arts,” Mr Anderson said.

“Go West will fight harder than ever before for the rights of Western Sydney while celebrating the amazing contribution its residents make to this great city.”

The Daily Telegraph editor Chris Dore said for Australia to continue to prosper Sydney, its most important city, must lead the way.

“ … and for Sydney to succeed, Western Sydney, in all its complexity and character, must be the driving force,” Mr Dore said.

“Western Sydney is already Australia’s fastest growing region. In all aspects, it is the beating heart of our city, its culture defines our spirit, and its ambitions will determine our future.

“With a federal election imminent, the battle of Western Sydney will determine the immediate future of our country.”

Go West will run across The Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph and NewsLocal, which has nine community mastheads serving Western Sydney.

Go West will begin with an editorial campaign and will be followed by its Champions of the West Grants program.

The grants program awards $10,000 to outstanding people and organisations showing initiative in Western Sydney across eight categories including young entrepreneur, small business and indigenous education.

News Corp Australia has also announced the campaign’s Western Sydney born-and-bred ambassadors which include:

Former Australian test cricket captain Michael Clarke and his wife Kyly

Channel 7 sports presenter Mel McLaughlin

Former NRL players John Skandalis and Nathan Hindmarsh

Musicians Jess and Matt

Amber Lawrence and Christie Lamb

Triple M Grill Team co-host and great Westie Mark Geyer

Actors Rob Shehadie, Tahir Bilgic and Sam Alhage

Nova FM’s Smallzy and Kate Ritchie

Soccer players Ellie Carpenter and Scott Jameson

AFL player Amna Karra-Hassan

V8 Supercar Champion James Courtney

Miss Universe Australia 2015 Monika Radulovic.

The first stage of the campaign culminates in eight days of events and activations in The Daily Telegraph’s Go West Bus Tour which will travel around Western Sydney with celebrity ambassadors, reporters, photographers and special guests.

On Thursday, May 19, The Daily Telegraph will host the gala Champions of the West awards night at the Bankstown Sports Club where the winners of the grants program categories will be presented with a $10,000 cheque.